ISOLATED TRACHEOESOPHAGEAL FISTULA - A RARE CONGENITAL MALFORMATION

Introduction: Isolated congenital tracheoesophageal fistula is a very rare malformation with an incidence of 1 in 50.000-80.000 births. In most of the cases this anomaly is detected in the first year of life because of the suggestive symptoms, but sometimes the diagnosis is delayed even until adulthood. Aim: The purpose of this paper is to analyse clinical, imagistic and therapeutic sights of this malformation. Matherial and Methods: We report three cases of isolated congenital tracheoesophageal fistula, diagnosed and successfully treated in our department between 2005 and 2012. Results: The age at time of diagnosis was 3 months, 18 months, and 3 years. The lesion was revealed by contrast radiography and endoscopy in all cases. Treatment consisted in section and ligation of the fistula. In one case the intervention was performed by right cervicotomy and in the other two by right toracothomy. The postoperatory evolution was uneventful in all cases. Conclusion: Despite its rarity, isolated tracheoesophageal fistula should be taken into account in the presence of recurrent chest infection, associated with choking and cyanosis on feeding. The surgical strategy should be adapted to the location of the lesion.